I pray that you are doing well on this important election week. The voting polls are now closed, and I hope you exercised your individual right to vote. Now that the votes are officially in, I thought it’d be appropriate to answer the question, “where do we go from here?” Regardless of how you voted, I’m confident that some of the people you voted for did get elected, while most certainly some did not. This is just how elections work. They usher in a strange combination of simultaneous celebration and disappointment every election year. So how do we move forward, especially if “your candidate” did not win? I would encourage you to do three things in the coming days:
Pray for your leaders. Pray for the newly elected political leaders and pray for those who will be exiting their offices. Paul tells Timothy, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions” (1 Timothy 2:1-2a). Paul doesn’t say pray for the leaders you agree with. He doesn’t even say pray for the ones who are Christians. He says pray for ALL people, but especially our leaders in high positions. If you pray for them, your prayers will be a blessing to those leaders, but I believe you will also be blessed as God further aligns your heart to His will through your time with Him.
Live at peace with others. It seems there is always collateral damage left in the wake of a contentious election. We become very passionate about our preferred candidates and platforms, and our passion can manifest itself through hurtful words when it goes unbridled. Most likely you have family members, friends, and neighbors whom you disagree with politically, and perhaps, you have said some things to them that you regret this season. It is important for us to show the watching world how to do life with people we do not agree with. As Christians, it would be wise for us to take Paul’s advice: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18). Keep in mind, politicians will finish their terms in a few years. Elected leaders always come and go, but friends do not. As far as it depends on you, live at peace with others who are around you.
Continue to stand on God’s Word. Elections usher in new authorities, but always remember that those authorities will be here today and gone tomorrow. There is only one authority who reigns forever. Jesus Christ is our Lord, and our highest allegiance will always belongs to Him. This is great news because He isn’t going to leave His office anytime soon (Cf Hebrews 13:8). In light of that, submit your life to Him and His unchanging Word. Your sense of identity and security should not shift with the political winds. God’s Word is our solid foundation, and no election has the power to shatter the living hope that is in us. So be encouraged and walk with spiritual confidence today, regardless of who won and who didn’t. Stand strong for His Word and earnestly pray like David: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).
I look forward to seeing you in worship on this Lord’s Supper Sunday. We will be wrapping up our Difference Maker sermon series and giving thanks to Christ for who He is and for what He has done. Invite a friend and join us at 9am or 11:11am.
Onward and upward,
Jonathan Spencer
www.jonathanspencer.org 